Chinese medicine was developed thousands of years ago in the Far East and acupuncture was seen as a prominent branch of this ancient tradition. The Chinese call it Zhue Jiao and it translates as "needle heat". The needle regulates "Qi"; an inner force which is responsible for the health of the body and with acupuncture controlling Qi energy the health of a person can be improved by the release of stress.

Pathways of Qi energy should flow freely in a healthy person and any symptoms of illness will indicate any barriers to this movement. The free flowing energy provides everything the cells need and removes all waste that has formed, the consequence being an improvement in the emotional and physical health. Symptoms of any illness will become manifest if Qi is blocked at any level.

Determining where to place the needles will be dictated by the need to return the flow to normal. This analysis might indicate the need for just one or a series of treatments. In order to stay healthy and maintain their Qi levels at an optimum level many Chinese have regular acupuncture treatments and Chinese acupuncture practitioners only get paid as long as their clients maintain good health.

Although many observe acupuncture as involving needles, other techniques are also used, including herbs, burning and electric stimulation. Western doctors, unlike traditional practitioners who use solid needles, use hollow tube, pre-sterilized and disposable needles. It is normal for no medicine to be used on the needles as the needle itself controls the Qi energy. The patients needs signal whether the needles are manipulated or introduced at a particular angle.

Rather than visit your acupuncture clinic when suffering from illness or disease it may be more beneficial to undergo regular treatments to maintain good health by keeping an optimum flow of Qi. A timetable of consultations will be drawn up determined by the symptoms evident at the time of your first visit. At each subsequent stage of your treatment, different locations will be used for needle insertion as your health improves. An affect causing a change in the Qi energy flow is induced by these different locations hastening the recovery to good health.

The needles are inserted at varying depths dependant on the course of treatment and can be anything up to three inches. Many patients experience no pain as the needles are inserted except for the occasional pinching sensation. Once the needles are in position they can easily be disregarded and many clients report a relaxed and warm sensation at the needle insertion point, which is indicative of the Qi energy being directed in the correct way.

One of the most beneficial ways to improve or sustain good health is with acupuncture. As an alternative to conventional medicine more and more people are turning to acupuncture and the benefits of this ancient practise are becoming better understood and encouraged by conventional western medicine.